Position Overview

The Public Health and Tropical Medicine Academic Group at James Cook University is seeking an enthusiastic, qualified academic in the area of epidemiology for a full-time, continuing position. Public Health and Tropical Medicine at James Cook University has an illustrious record in tropical and public health education and research spanning over 100 years and boasts one of the largest postgraduate public health training programs in Australia.   These programs include a Master of Public Health (MPH) and Master of Public Health and Tropical Medicine (MPH&TM) as well as postgraduate certificate and diploma level courses. The programs cover the core public health competencies with a particular focus on the challenges facing health professionals working in tropical, rural and remote environments. Public Health and Tropical Medicine play a key role in embedding research curriculum across undergraduate health professional courses and postgraduate public health courses.

The incumbent will join a dynamic team of professionals and will be a crucial member in the Research Methods team. This position requires the incumbent to have a strong background in epidemiology and statistics and a demonstrated passion, experience and capacity for teaching and research. The incumbent will conduct innovative teaching in the MPH and MPH&TM postgraduate courses, especially in epidemiology and/or biostatistics, as well as general research methods at undergraduate level for Allied Health students. The incumbent will also take a lead role in developing and conducting research activities in epidemiology / biostatistics and other areas of tropical public health importance, and in providing support to build capacity in research methods through formal and informal training.

The position offers the incumbent the scope to develop their own research portfolio in association with a strong group of collaborators in the College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, the newly formed Tropical Australian Academic Health Centre, the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Vector-borne and Neglected Tropical Diseases, other research centres within James Cook University (JCU) and external groups based within Australia and the region.

Division of Tropical Health and Medicine

The Division of Tropical Health and Medicine encompasses human and animal health professional areas and related biomedical science disciplines. The Division has a particular focus on the health of rural, remote and Indigenous Australian communities and tropical medicine.

The Colleges of the Division include:

• Medicine and Dentistry
• Healthcare Sciences
• Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences

College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences

As part of the Division of Tropical Health and Medicine the College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences promotes, fosters, supports and administers quality teaching and research at JCU in the areas of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Veterinary Science, Biomedicine and Molecular and Cell Biology. Working in a collaborative leadership model with the Office of the Division, the other Colleges and the Centre for Rural and Remote Health, the College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences contributes to advancing the strategic agenda and to strengthening partnerships and engagement.

Organisational Charts

James Cook University

Principal Accountabilities

1. Develop capacity in (public health) research methods (epidemiology) focusing on populations in rural and remote tropical and indigenous locations. This includes supervision of Higher Degree by Research students;
2. Develop, coordinate and teach as directed by the Academic Head and/or direct supervisor into relevant undergraduate and postgraduate subjects, offered by Public Health and Tropical Medicine on the Cairns and Townsville and outer campuses (Mount Isa, Mackay and Thursday Island), delivered face-to-face and virtually, including but not limited to, epidemiology and research methodology.
3. Contribute to research activities in Discipline of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, including sourcing and applying for new funding.
4. Facilitate development of research and professional networks in public health in north Queensland and further afield;
5. Contribute towards the administration and other activities of the Discipline and University as required.
6. Support the University's commitment to the principles of reconciliation, which exemplify respectforAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderheritageandthevaluingofjusticeandequity for all Australians.
7. Demonstrate a commitment to the University values.
8. Support the principles of the Trop Eco program and engage in commitment to JCU sustainability goals and objectives.

Generic Accountabilities

There are generic responsibilities that apply to all James Cook University staff.

1. The Lecturer/Senior Lecturer is required to observe the lawful and reasonable directions, policies and decisions of the University Council, understand and comply with the Enterprise Agreement, the Statutes and Rules of the University, the policies and decisions of the University Council and other appropriate University authorities, as in force from time to time.
2. The Lecturer/Senior Lecturer is required to demonstrate a personal commitment to ensure personal safety and the safety of others and contribute to the continuous improvement of our WHS performance. This includes the effective implementation and compliance with James Cook University WHS policies, procedures and safe systems of work, together with all relevant legislation, duties and obligations. Contribute to the continuous improvement of our WHS performance.
3. The Lecturer/Senior Lecturer is required to exercise proper discretion in all matters affecting the well-being oftheUniversitywhichinvolvepublicwritingorspeakinginaccordancewiththeUniversity’s Code of Conduct.

Special Conditions

• It is a requirement of this position to be able to travel to other JCU campuses.

Selection Criteria

Selection and appointments will be assessed against selection criteria.

Essential

1. PhD (or equivalent higher research degree) in Epidemiology; as well as an MPH degree (or equivalent) or equivalent professional/academic experience in the public health field;
2.  Demonstrated ability in the design, development, coordination and delivery of research methods subjects (i.e. Epidemiology) in various modes of delivery (internal, external, semester mode, block mode) at undergraduate and postgraduate level;
3. Demonstrated ability to provide supervision of Higher Degree by Research students, or capacity to do so;
4. Demonstrated ability to undertake research as evidenced by track record (publications, conference presentations, grants, industry collaborations);
5. Demonstrated ability in analyzing data from studies in the health field (preferably public health) as demonstrated by experience in performing quantitative (statistical) analyses and complex data manipulation using software such as SPSS, EpiInfo, Stata, R, SAS or a comparable statistical package with a flexible programme language;
6. Demonstrated ability to liaise effectively and engage with multidisciplinary academics, health care professionals, community and professional bodies and other key stakeholders;
7. High level interpersonal skills and the ability to function well in a multidisciplinary environment across campuses.

Desirable

1. Experience working or living in a rural, remote and/or tropical locations within or outside Australia.
2. Established local and regional professional and research networks.
3. Demonstrated skills in clinical epidemiology and health services research.
4. Expertise in global health, infectious disease, or other public health areas.
5. Ability (or capacity) to contribute to teaching and research in the allied health field.
6. Demonstrated capacity to implement innovative learning methods.